Shallow Water Highlight Method and Display Systems

ABSTRACT

A digital mapping display and related system for fishing, and other applications.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This patent application is a continuation of co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/833,907, filed Jul. 9, 2010, which claims thebenefits of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications Nos. 61/239,715 and61/239,717, each of which were filed Sep. 3, 2009, the teachings anddisclosure of which are incorporated herein in their entireties byreference thereto.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, techniques for digital mapping areprovided. In particular, the present invention provides methods,devices, and systems for displaying selected regions of a body of waterand associated areas. More particularly, the present invention providessystems, methods, codes, and devices for selectively highlighting onedepth or one or more ranges of contiguous depths on the chart of a bodyof water or varying the depth values for contour lines on such chart onthe display of a Global Positioning System (GPS) or coupled to a deviceof the GPS. As an example, ProMap Technologies, Inc., dba;LakeMasterLake Maps has developed a Chart Library and API that allowsGPS manufacturers to embed the API into their OS and thus displayproprietary LakeMaster Digital Charts. These LakeMaster Digital Chartsreside on a secure SD media card in a format compatible through the APIwith various GPS Devices. Of course, there can be other variations,modifications, and alternatives.

GPS and underwater sounding devices (SONAR) have made access tonavigational charts more readily availability to the angler. Newercharts created with modern technology reach accuracies of within lessthan one foot for location and depth. Such accuracies allow the creatingof highly accurate marine charts capable of depicting the lake bottom ina manner imitating photographic imagery. GPS devices standing alone orcoupled with SONAR units have opened a whole new dimension ofinformation available to mariners, anglers and recreational boaters.Data collected during the mapping process has expanded to include notonly bottom depth but bottom composition, hardness light penetration,weed growth, periodic tidal or random water level changes together withcurrents to name some examples.

Although highly successful, GPS devices alone or with SONAR units stillhave limitations. As an example, such devices are often cumbersome andlack easy to use functions. Without accurate charts that provide easyaccess to the information they can provide, GPS devices can do littlemore than allow you to find a previously known point. With accuratecharts and user friendly ways to sort and present the information theycontain, GPS devices can open entire new worlds of information.Conventional GPS display presentations tend to be static. That is tosay, they present information in the same fashion as traditional papermaps. There is no ability to highlight particular features or change theway the chart is presented. Moreover, the conventional GPS device failsto provide ways to modify and display chart data to reflect real timeconditions encountered by the user. Additionally, the conventional unitsdo not provide a user with the ability to modify the GPS chart displayto reflect potential changes in conditions such as water depth that haveor may occur on the water body since the chart was produced.

From the above, it is seen that techniques for improving how GPS andSONAR units present their data are highly desirable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, techniques for digital mapping areprovided. In particular, the present invention provides methods,devices, and systems for displaying charts of selected regions of a bodyof water and associated areas. More particularly, the present inventionprovides systems, methods, codes, and devices for selectivelyhighlighting one depth or one or more range of contiguous depths on thechart of a body of water or varying the depth values for contour lineson such chart on the display of a GPS device or GPS. As an example,ProMap Technologies, Inc., dba LakeMaster Lake Maps, has developed aChart Library and API that allows GPS manufacturers to embed the APIinto their OS and thus display proprietary LakeMaster.RTM. DigitalCharts. These LakeMaster Digital Charts reside on a secure SD media cardin a format compatible through the API with various GPS devices. Ofcourse, there can be other variations, modifications, and alternatives.

The present invention in several embodiments provides a significantadvancement in graphic information presentation techniques. Inparticular, the techniques provide methods and systems to sort, analyzeand display an array of useful information regarding a water body in aGPS map or chart environment. As an example, ProMap Technologies, Inc.,has developed a Chart Library Application Programming Interface (API)that allows GPS manufacturers to embed the API into their unit'sOperating System and thus display proprietary LakeMaster.RTM.DigitalCharts. These LakeMaster Digital Charts reside on a secure SD media cardin a format initially compatible with conventional GPS devices. In anembodiment, these maps contain bathymetric information that can besorted and displayed by the embedded API to highlight certain regions ofcontiguous bottom depth from the shore of the water body as separatefrom the map of the water body as a whole. Of course, there can be othervariations, modifications, and alternatives.

In a specific embodiment, the present invention provides a method foridentifying shallow water regions by a graphical output of a depictionof at least one selected area of a body of water to a Global PositioningSystem (GPS) device coupled to a display. In a specific embodiment, thedisplay is coupled to a GPS plotter. The method includes capturingposition information of a vessel from a global positioning system usingat least an antenna device, which is optional. The method also includesretrieving at least one chart of one or more regions of a body of waterusing at least the position information or from a chart library inmemory without any position information from the GPS. The chartcomprises a plurality of bottom depths below a surface of the one ormore regions of the body of water. The chart is configured to be outputon the display. The method includes determining a lower limit value ofbottom depths associated with a shallow water region be highlighted onthe display simultaneously with the chart and inputting the lower limitvalue of the bottom depths to be highlighted. The method also identifiesa shallower contiguous region on the chart between the surface of thebody of water and the lower limit value and simultaneously outputs oneor more indications representative of the shallower contiguous regionwith the chart on the display to highlight the shallow water region.

In a specific embodiment, the present invention provides a system fordisplaying a graphical output of one or more shallow water regions of abody of water. The system includes one or more computer readablememories including various codes. A first code is directed to storecapturing position information of a vessel from a global positioningsystem using at least an antenna device in an optional embodiment. Asecond code directed to retrieve at least one chart of one or moreregions of a body of water from a chart library. The chart comprises aplurality of bottom depths below a surface of the one or more regions ofthe body of water. The chart is configured to be output on the display.The memory also has a third code directed to receive a lower limit valueof bottom depths associated with a shallow water region be highlightedon the display simultaneously with the chart and a fourth code directedto store the lower limit value of the bottom depths to be highlighted.The memory has a fifth code directed to identify a shallower contiguousregion on the chart between the surface of the body of water and thelower limit value and a sixth code directed to outputting one or moreindications representative of the shallower contiguous region with thechart on the display to highlight the shallow water region.

In still an alternative embodiment, the present invention provides asystem for displaying a graphical output of one or more shallow waterareas of a body of water. The system has a display and one or moregraphical representations of one or more regions of a body of water. Thesystem has one or more labeled contour lines representative of aninterface between land and the one or more regions of the body of waterand a plurality of labeled contour lines representative of respectiveplurality of bottom depths below the surface of the one or more regionsof the body of water. The system has a first output of a highlightedhazardous or highlighted shallow water region, which may be between ashoreline of the body of water and a lower limit value or a secondoutput free of the highlighted hazardous or highlighted shallow waterregion, which may be between the shoreline of the body of water and thelower limit value.

Many benefits are achieved by way of the present invention overconventional techniques. In one or more embodiments, the presentinvention provides for improved display features coupled to a GPSDisplay Device. In other embodiments, the present method and system maybe configured on commercial fish finders or the like. The presentinvention provides a user friendly method of customizing a chart displayin real time to reflect current physical characteristics of the waterbody. Depths may be dynamically adjusted to allow for changing waterlever conditions. Specific physical features of interest to the user canbe highlighted in real time based on user inputs. Because the display iscontrolled by user input, rather than relying on predeterminedparameters, broader flexibility for display of charts can be achievedthereby greatly expanding the utility of digital GPS charting ingeneral. Further benefits can be achieved by allowing user to createartificial conditions and display possible results for different fieldconditions. Physical characteristics of a water body can then be vieweddisplaying the dynamically created conditions prior to their actualoccurrence, allowing users to adjust strategies accordingly. Dependingupon the embodiment, one or more of these benefits may be achieved.These and other benefits will be described in more detail throughout thepresent specification and more particularly below.

Various additional objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention can be more fully appreciated with reference to the detaileddescription and accompanying drawings that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a simplified diagram of a vessel with a GPS Display Deviceapparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a simplified diagram of the GPS Display Device apparatusaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a simplified diagram illustrating a shallow water highlightfeature according to embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a simplified block diagram according to the shallow waterhighlight feature according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 5 thru 7 are simplified GPS map images as they appear in thevisual display area of a GPS Display Device in one or more embodimentsof the present invention:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, techniques for digital mapping areprovided. In particular, the present invention provides methods,devices, and systems for displaying charts of selected regions of a bodyof water and associated areas. More particularly, the present inventionprovides systems, methods, codes, and devices for selectivelyhighlighting one or more depths on a chart of a body of water using adisplay coupled to a GPS Display Device or GPS. As an example, ProMapTechnologies, Inc., dba LakeMaster Lake Maps, has developed a ChartLibrary and API that allows GPS manufacturers to embed the API intotheir OS and thus display proprietary LakeMaster.RTM. Digital Charts.These LakeMaster Digital Charts reside on a secure SD media card in aformat compatible through the API with various GPS devices or GPSDisplay. Of course, there can be other variations, modifications, andalternatives.

As used herein, the above definitions are merely examples. There can beother variations, modifications, and alternatives and meaningsconsistent with those interpretations known in the art.

“API” means application programming interface.

“Chart or alternatively Map” means the individual image to be displayedon a GPS Display Device. The chart may be composed from either vector orraster graphical sources. The vector based chart would be composed fromencoded vectors and points arranged into a chart image with specificallyencoded components which can be manipulated according to user inputs toachieve the modifications of a visual display controlled by the user anddisplayed on a GPS device at its true geographical world coordinate(s).The raster chart may be composed as a fixed image or as in thisembodiment may be dissected into pixels, lines or polygons of varyingcolors. Those individual components of the raster image are then encodedthus creating an image which can be manipulated according to user inputsto achieve the modifications of a visual display controlled by the userand displayed on a GPS device at its true geographical worldcoordinate(s). Of course, there can be other meanings consistent withthose known by one of ordinary skill in the art.

“Chart Library” means a collection of subroutines and/or routines thatcontain code, images and data to provide services to independentprograms.

“Contour Line” means one or more lines depicting a contiguous orsemi-contiguous area of the bottom of a water body being at the samedepth below the surface or a line depicting a transition between twodiffering areas of bottom composition, bottom hardness, weed growth orcurrent flow.

“GPS device” means Global Positioning System capable of using satellitesignals to locate the current position of the GPS device or a locationselected by a user and providing a positional related output to create avisual representation of specified geographic locations coupled with amap of the surrounding area.

“GPS/Sonar Combination Unit” (Combo Unit) means one or moreconfigurations of GPS devices with visual displays capable of displayinginputs from GPS and Sonar units on a single integrated display.

“GPS Display Device” means a visual display device in one or moreconfigurations of GPS or Combo unit.

“Map Media Cards” means any form of electronic media mass storage deviceor media card capable of storing digital information and allowing accessto such information by a digital processor.

“Human Interface” means any method by which a human user is able toinput specific values (data) into a GPS device to among other functionsdynamically change the appearance of the visual display in apredetermined manner or provide other user inputs necessary tomanipulating the visual image of a chart on the display of the GPSdevice.

“Shaded” means cross-hatch, dotted, or other fill methods for regionsand any and all forms of line or shading depiction.

“Raster” and “Vector” relate to techniques of processing data fordisplay on the GPS device, or in any GIS environment. As an example,raster format basically stores a set of images that are “pinned” to ageographic location on the earth. When the GPS location data is inputinto the GPS software, the image is called up and displayed on thescreen. Vector format has discrete points individually coded withgeographic location information. That information is output to a programwhich literally draws the geographic image and then places it on ascreen.

As used herein, the above definitions are merely examples. There can beother variations, modifications, and alternatives and meaningsconsistent with those interpretations known in the art.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, and 4, a vessel, shown as a watercraft 1, on asurface 2 of a body of water 3 employs a GPS Display Device 4 mounted onthe watercraft 1 connected to a GPS antenna 5. GPS satellites 6 ingeosynchronous orbits continuously transmit signals 7 that are receivedby the antenna 5 and transmitted to the GPS Display Device 4. The GPSDisplay Device 4 system includes the antenna 5 connected to a GPSDisplay Device 4 that has a processor 8, a Human Interface 9, in thepresent embodiment, one or more preprogrammed Map Media Cards 10containing digital records in the form of a Chart Library 12 and avisual display area 11. The processor 8 repetitively processes thesignals from the satellites 6 to determine the position of thewatercraft 1. In other embodiments, the antenna device may repeatedprocess signals from the satellites to determine the position of thewatercraft. The processor 8, using this position information determinesthe correct visual map image to retrieve from the Chart Library 12 onthe Map Media Card 10 to display in the visual display area 11. Incorrect or selected visual map is one of a plurality of maps in theChart Library. The processor then retrieves any user pre-sets inputtedthrough the Human Interface 9 to modify the map image retrieved from theMap Media Card 10 to create a modified map image. The processor 8 thenplaces the modified map image 18 in the visual display area 11. Ofcourse the visual display area can alternatively display the modifiedmap 18 for any location the user may choose to determine.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2, 3, and 4, in an embodiment using informationobtained from external sources, the user selects a depth for input tothe device, namely the minimum depth the user wants to highlight foroperation of their vessel or at which to fish. In the present embodimentthe user selects a drop down menu 15 by pressing the correct key 14 incombination with the toggle pad 17 in the Human Interface 9. The userthen selects a menu entry area 16 from the drop down menu using a togglepad 17 and correct key 14. By moving a slid bar 20 in the menu entryarea using a toggle pad 17, the user selects the desired depth 19. Theprocessor 8 repetitively processes the signals 7 from the satellites 6to determine the position of the watercraft 1. The processor 8, usingthis position information determines the correct visual map image toretrieve from the Chart Library 12 on the Map Media Card 10. Based onthis user input, the processor 8 modifies the map image retrieved fromthe Chart Library 12 to highlight all areas of the retrieved map imageshallower than the selected depth. The processor 8 then places themodified map image 18 in the visual display area 11. Alternatively, theHuman Interface 9 may have switches or push buttons, or any of a varietyof mechanical input elements, display menus and depth selectiontechniques. Of course the visual display area can alternatively displaythe modified map 18 for any location the user may choose to determine.

In one or more embodiments, certain functionality of the present ChartLibrary API is novel and unique GPS plotter technology as applied to thefishing and boating industry according to one or more embodiments. Thefunctionality is provided to the API and is thus applicable to any unitthat can access the API. In a specific embodiment, the present methodand system are directed to a shallow water highlight feature. Othertechniques for mapping have been described in co-pending U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 12/833,919 (Attorney Docket No. 508747), entitled,“DEPTH HIGHLIGHT, DEPTH HIGHLIGHT RANGE, AND WATER LEVEL OFFSETHIGHLIGHT DISPLAY AND SYSTEMS,” commonly assigned, and herebyincorporated by reference for all purposes.

All of the above functions and graphic primitives that allow thosefunctions to be displayed on a GPS screen are resident in one or morecodes in a specific embodiment. The GPS manufacturer often provides theOperating System Menu Options that allow these functions to be turned onor off and be incrementally adjusted using a slide tool bar. Of course,there can be other variations, modifications, and alternatives.

The following screen captures showing the display functionality takenfrom a GPS/Sonar unit are further described throughout the presentspecification and more particularly in the accompanying text.

The following screen captures showing the display functionality takenfrom a GPS Display Device are further described throughout the presentspecification and more particularly in the accompanying text.

In a specific embodiment, the present method and system serves toenhance a chart by highlighting shallow water areas for easier and safernavigation. SWH allows the navigator the ability to highlight in red anydepth range starting with zero down to a safe navigation depth on thevisible map. The SWH tool allows the navigator to highlight water to amaximum depth of 30 feet, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. An example of SWHFunction rendering all depths on chart from zero to 5-feet deep in red,as shown in FIG. 7.

In other embodiments, the method (and system) has other variations. Thatis, the one or more indications are selected from at least a shadedregion, a flashing region, a broken contour line, a flashing contourline, a solid line, a broken line, or a series of symbols. Additionally,the one or more indications are associated with differentiated spatialregions selected from one or more contour lines differentiated from atleast one of the remaining contour lines, one or more shaded regionsdifferentiated from at least one of the remaining regions or one or morecolored regions differentiated from one of the remaining regions. Theone or more indications are associated with one or more colored contourline labels, one or more shaded contour line labels, one or moreflashing contour line labels, or one or more differentiated contour linelabels. In a specific embodiment, the one or more indications areassociated with one or more separate routes.

In other embodiments, the method includes an alarm process. The methodincludes moving the vessel into the shallow water region and outputtingan alarm signaling entry of the vessel into the shallow water region. Ina specific embodiment, the alarm signal may be a flashing display, audiosound from a speaker, or a combination of both, or even shut off thevessel in some embodiments. Of course, there are other variations,modifications, and alternatives.

In a specific embodiment, there are other variations. The outputting isprovided in two dimensions or three dimensions. The outputting of theone or more indications is provided simultaneously with the chart. In aspecific embodiment, the inputting of the lower limit value comprisesselecting an indication associated with a numerical value through a userinterface provided on the display. The inputting of the lower limitvalue comprises moving a slide bar on a user interface provided on thedisplay or using a voice command coupled to the display. The inputtingalso may occur using a first key pad or first toggle coupled to the GPSdevice or using second key pad or second toggle separate and apart fromthe GPS device. In a specific embodiment, the body of water is selectedfrom a lake, an ocean, a bay, a river, a reservoir, an impoundment, apond, and a stream. Additionally, the chart further comprises one ormore spot depths or the chart comprises at least one continuous depthcontour line at the lower limit value. In one or more embodiments, thelower limit value is associated with a structure, which may be a hazardto the vessel.

Types of charts available to apply these tools to may vary from regionto region in specific embodiments. There are basically to types ofcharts, Standard Definition (SD) and High Definition (HD). StandardDefinition charts are most often displayed in 5-foot depth intervalswith contour depth lines for every 5-foot of depth. High Definitioncharts are available in 1-foot depth intervals (most common anddescribed earlier) or a chart with 3-foot depth intervals. Viewing a3-foot Hi-Def or a 5-foot Standard Depth chart and applying the ShallowWater Highlight tools will have varying results. Selecting a ShallowWater Highlight not common to the chart will result in a rendered chartwith values rounded up or down to the nearest contour line or intervalof that chart.

For example, when viewing a 3-foot chart and selecting a 10-foot ShallowWater Highlight, the entire interval between 0 and 12 will behighlighted.

In a specific embodiment, the system can include common hardware and/orsoftware elements. As an example, the system includes a monitor ordisplay, and an associated computing system, which is included and/orcoupled to the GPS system and/or depth locator system, e.g., SONOR orfish finder system. The computing system preferably includes familiarcomponents such as a processor or processors as noted, and memorystorage devices, such as a random access memory (RAM), a fixed diskdrive or flash memory, and a system bus interconnecting the abovecomponents. The RAM and fixed disk drive or flash drive are mereexamples of tangible media for storage of computer programs, audioand/or video data, and code implementing embodiments of the presentinvention. Other types of tangible media include SRAM, floppy disks,optical storage media such as CD-ROMs and bar codes, semiconductormemories such as flash memories, read-only-memories (ROMs), ASICs,battery-backed volatile memories, and the like, and combinations.

In a specific embodiment, the system can also include a networkinterface to a computer network, which may be a short range network,wide area network or local area network or combination. Of course, therecan be other variations, modifications, and alternatives. The systemabove discloses examples of configurations that embody the presentinvention. It will be readily apparent to one of ordinary skill in theart that many system types, configurations, and combinations of theabove devices are suitable for use in light of the present disclosure.Of course, the types of system elements used depend highly upon theapplication.

While the above is a full description of the specific embodiments,various modifications, alternative constructions and equivalents may beused. Also, as used herein, the terms “first” “second” “third” andothers do not imply order but shall be interpreted as ordinary meaningand can mean any order. Therefore, the above description andillustrations should not be taken as limiting the scope of the presentinvention which is defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of displaying a depiction of an area ofa body of water on a display, the method comprising the steps of:receiving a user selection of a shallow water depth to be highlighted onthe depiction of the area of the body of water on the display;determining at least one shallow water region to be highlighted on thedisplay that is shallower than the shallow water depth; and outputtingone or more indications representative of the at least one shallow waterregion on the display to highlight the at least one shallow waterregion.
 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining atleast one shallow water region to be highlighted on the display that isshallower than the shallow water depth comprises the step of determiningat least one shallow water region to be highlighted on the display thatis shallower than a contour line on a chart of the body of water that isnext deeper than the shallow water depth.
 3. A method of providing avisual navigational aid on a chart of at least a portion of a body ofwater displayed on a display, comprising the steps of: setting a shallowwater highlight depth; determining at least one contiguous shallow waterregion to be highlighted on the display that is shallower than theshallow water highlight depth based on contour lines contained on thechart; and outputting one or more indications representative of the atleast one contiguous shallow water region on the display to highlightthe at least one shallow water region.
 4. The method of claim 3, whereinthe step of determining at least one contiguous shallow water region tobe highlighted on the display that is shallower than the shallow waterhighlight depth based on contour lines contained on the chart comprisesthe step of including a next deeper contour line relative to the shallowwater highlight depth in the shallow water region.